Liquid propellant gun



. 8, 1964 c. R. BELL ETAL LIQUID PROPELLANT auu Filed May 27. .1957

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Churle 5 E E all INVENTORS Kenne ih ELJc hnsnn Dec. 8,1964 c. R. BELL ETAL LIQUID PROPELLANT GUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May27, 1957 INVENTORS) film-DIE 5 E. E all 8, 1964 c. R. BELL ETAL LIQUIDPROPELLANT auu 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1957 m LmHm INVENTOR;[Il-1111 125 R-EE11 Kennelh 5.3011115571 BY United States Parent3,160,tl64 LIQUID PROPELLANTGUN v Charles R. BellyCanoga Park, Calif.,and Kenneth G.

Johnsor, Aurora, lil., assignors, by mesne assignrrents,

to the United States of Americaas represented by the Secretary of theArmy Filed May 27, 1957, Ser. No. 661383 2 Claims. (Cl. 89-155) Ourinvention relates to a revolver-type automatic gun having a pair ofbarrels andmore particularly to such a gun disposed for operation by aliquid propellant.

It is an object of our invention to provide such a gun with a firingdevice for dischargng the liquid propellant.

A further object of our nvention is to provide such a charging a liquidpropellant is provided with a cylinder g for combustion thereof andpassage means' for delivering gases from the combustion simultaneouslyto a pair of firing Stations for action against projectiles disposed inaxial alignment with the twin barrels of a revolver-type The firingdevice is provided with a reservor adjacent the combustion chamber and apiston biased to a battery position and disposed for reciprocal axialoperation responsive to the combustion. Valves disposed between thepiston, the stern of the piston and the housing control pasasge of thepropellant from a supply thereof to the reservor and from the reservorto the combustion cylinder responsive to the axial operation of thepiston. The reservor holds a sufiicient quantity of propellant forpropelling projectiles sinultaneously through both barrels."

A cam mechanisrn is dispo sed between the piston and the receiver tocontrol operation of the valves responsive to the axial reciprocation,and a' sleeve nechanism is connected through racks and a pinion to theactuator of the gun for operation of the cam device responsive toreciprocation of the actuator of the gun.

For a more complete understanding of our invention, reference isdirected to the following explanation and the accompanying drawings in'which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the gun with the actuator in searedposition;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 with the actuator in battery position; u

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 with the actuator in forward position;

FIG. 4 is a View along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a View along line 6-.-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view along line'7-'7 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 8 isa developed view of the follower cam.

Accordingly, a gun 12 includes a receiver 14 with twin barrels 15Secured therein and a housing 16 including forward, intermediate andrearward sections 18, 20 and 22, respectively, removably Securedtogether and provided with a cylindrical aperture 25 of varyingdiameters therethrough. Rearward section 22 is substantially 'i'- shapedin configuration and includes lateral arms 23 secured to receiver 14 bypins 24.

A drum 26 including chambers 28 for projectiles 30 is disposed forrotation around the leg portion of rearward section 22 and intermediatesection 20 to simultaneously convey diametrically-disposed chambers 28to firing stations in respective alignment with barrels 15.

Aperture 25 includes a cylinder 32 in rearward section 22 connected bytubes 33 in arms 23 to openings 34- in respective alignment with barrels15. Rearward section 22 is provided with an electric igniter 36 so as toextend into cylinder 32. A pisten 38 axial ly slidable in cylinder 32'is biased to a rearward position by a spring 60* and provided with astern 40 having a cylindrical Compartment 42 therein. The portion ofcylinder 332 between the rear end of piston 38 and the rear end ofaper-ture 25 forms a combustion chamber 35. A cylindrical seat 44 isrotationaliy fixed within the portion of aperture 25 which is disposedin intermediate section 20 and the seat is provided with an aXial bore31 to slidingly receive stern 40. Seat 44 and piston 38 are spaced toprovide a reservor 45 therebetween for inclosing the quantity ofpropellant required for simultaneous discharge of barrels 15 when piston38 is in the rearward position. A ring spring 46 is disposed betweenseat 44 and section 26 to resilient ly stop pisten 38 in a forwardbattery position.

A sleeve 48 fixed to stern 40 includes a flange 49 projecting into anannular cavity 50 of section 18 to form v an expansible chamber 51 whichis connected to a pressurized supply of nitrogen, or other inert gas(not shown), to prevent scepage of unexploded propellant along stern 40and to danpen the forward movement of piston 33.

Stern 40 includes an extension 53, and a follower 54 splined theretobetween shoulders 55 and 56 is provided with diametral rollers 57 spaced90 degrees apart for engagement with spital cams 58 provided in receiver14.

An actuator 64 axially slidable in receiver 14 is pro- Vided with a cam66 for engagement with radial rollers 68 mounted on drum 26 so as tocorrespond to chambers 28. Actuator 64 is rearwardly biased to a batteryposition by a pair of drive springs 70 to selectively retan pairs of.the chambers 28 in the firing Stations and the cam is disposed for thesequential rotation of successivo pairs of such chambers to the firingStations responsive to operation of the actuator. A cylinder 72 Securedto receiver 14 receives an axially'sldable pisten 74 Secured to actuator64, andan aperture 75 conducts discharge gases from barrels 15 tocylinder '72 for forward operation of piston 74 responsive to the gases.

Stern 40 is provided with four apertures 76 which communicate withcorresponding holes through sleeve 48 and four radial ducts 78. Piston38 is provided with four nozzles comprising elemental depressionsdisposed in the rearward portion of the periphery of piston 38 and backof the apertures 76, ducts 78 and such nozzles are spaced apart 90degrees. Nozzles St) are angularly displaced 35 degrees from ducts 78.

Liquid propellant under pressure is supplied through a tube 79 to anannulus 81 of cylindrical aperture 25 disposed in section 18 so as to beat all times, in communication with apertures 76. Flow of the propellantto the annnlus is controlled by a valve (not shown).

Valves to control flow of propellant to combustion chamber 35 includediametral grooves 82 in seat 44 and Channels 84 in rearward section 22and such groovesand channels communicate respectively with ducts '78 andnozzles Sii. Propellant flow is indicated 'by the'arrows in FIG. 1.

Cams 58 include steps 85 and 86 and rollers 57 are biased outwardly bycorresponding springs 59 for engagement therewith for progression of therollers to positions 88, 90, 92, and 94 in the sense noted in FIG. 8.When the rollers 57 are in the positions 88 or 94, ducts 78 are alignedwith grooves 82, and when in the positions 90 or 92, nozzles 80 arealigned with channels 84.

A trigger mechanism (not shown) is disposed for retention of actuator 64in an intermediate position substantially one inch before the batteryposition.

In operation, the propellant valve is closed, the trigger mechanism isreleased and gun 12 is cycled three times by a charger (not shown) todispose a pair of the projeotiles in the charging Stations. In the thirdcycle, actuator 64 is seared and the propellant valve is opened topermit flow of the propellant into compartmen't 42 and reservoir 45. i

When the trigger mechanism is again released, actuator 64 proceeds tothe battery position responsive to spring 70. The rearward movement ofactuator 64 is converted to forward movement of follower 54 by theoperative cooperation of a pinion gear 102 journaled in receiver M witha pair of racks 100 and 101 provided respectively on actuator 64 and acollar 104 which is slidingly mounted over extension 53 for engagementWith follower 54 during rearward movement of actuator 64 under the biasof spring 70, the rollers 57 are cammingly rotated to position 90 andthereby piston 33 is rotated to register nozzles 80 with channels 84 forflow of the propellant therethrough responsive to the pressur of thepropellant to begin combustion thereof in combustion charnber 35 byigniter 36.

Piston 38 moves forwardly responsive to gases from the combustion androllers 57 engage cam 58 for rotation of the rollers to position 94 foralignment of ducts 78 With grooves 82. Piston 38, continues forwardly toforce the propellant in reservoir 45 rearwardly through channel 84 andnozzles 80 into combustion chamber 35 until the propellant is exhaustedfrom such reservoir, whereby none of the unexploded propellant remainsin the reservoir to pass into the drum for discharge therein to causedamage to the gun and operating personnel.

During the forward movement, ducts 78 are blocked -by the inner surfaceof seat 44. Near the end of the rearward stroke, cam 58 displacesr-ollers 57 to position 94 to cut oli flow of propellant through channel84.

Pressure on piston 38 is reduced as projectiles 30 leave barrels 15 andpiston 38 is returned to the rearward position responsive to followerspring 60 and the compressed gases in charnber 51. As stern 4.0 movesrearwardly, ducts 78 are uncovered for flow of propellant to fillreservoir 45 for the succeeding cycle of the gun.

Projectiles 30 are propelled from chambers 28 in the firing stationsthrough barrels 15 responsive to the dis` charge, and the gasestherefrom are conducted to cylinder 72 through apertures 75, as theapertures are uncovered by the projectiles, for the forward operation ofpiston '74.

Gun 12 is provided with a feeder (not shown) to convey projectiles 30 topositions in aXial alignment with loading Stations of chambers 28, whichare the stations occupied by those chambers next succeeding the firingstation chanbers. A rammer 116 secured to actuator 64 includes fingers118 for half-ramming projectiles 30 into the next succeeding chambersand fingers 120 for finishramming the cartridges into the chamberssucceeding the firing station chambers responsive to the rearwardstrokes of actuator 64.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised withinthe spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended toinclude such variations.

i We claim:

1. In combination with a pressurized supply of liquid propellant, anautomatic gun including a receiver, a pair of 'barrels, a drum rotatablymounted in th receiver for simultaneously cnveying projectiles to firingStations in alignment with said barrels, an actuator disposed in saidreceiver for longitudinal reciprocation during cyclic operation of saidgun and cam means for converting the longitudinal reciprocation of saidactuator to rotation of the drum, a firing device including a housingprovided with an aperture including a cylindrical portion terminated byan end portion, a piston slidingly mounted in said cylindrical portionfor reciprocation between a bat tery and a recoil position, a spring forbiasing said piston to the battery position, a combustion chamber formedin said cylindrical portion between said end portion and said piston forthe discharge of a metered quantity of said liquid propellant therein,said piston being disposed for actuation to the recoil position by thedischarge, duct means for directing the gases from the discharge againstthe projectiles in the firing stations for the simultaneous propulsionthereof through said barrels, a stem portion extending from said pistonalong said aperture, a cylindrical seat mounted in said aperture andprovided With an aXial hole for slidingly receiving said stern portion,said seat being spaced from said piston When in the battery position -toform a reservoir therebetween for metering apredetermined quantity ofsaid propellant sufiicient for the simultaneous propulsion of theprojectiles through the 'barrels, said seat being engageable by saidpiston when in the recoil position to completely reduce said reservoir,a cylindrical compartment axially disposed in said stern portion, meansfor conducting propellant from the pressurized supply to saidcompartment, ducts extending through said stern portion from saidcompartment, grooves, channels and nozzles corresponding to said ductsprovided respectively in said sleeve, housing and piston, a followermounted to said stern portion for limited iongitudinal movement relativethereto and rotational movement therewith, cam portions provided in thereceiver for engaged cooperation with said follower for rotating saidpiston to align said ducts With said grooves during movement of saidpiston to the battery position by said spring for passage of saidpropellant from said compartment to fill said reservoir and to alignsaid nozzles with said channels when said piston is in the batteryposition and for passing the metered quantity of said propellant fromsaid reservoir to said combustion chamber during movement thereof to therecoil position, and means for di-scharging the propellant in saidcombustion chamber.

2. A firing device as in claim 1 with a-collar inclosing said stem forengagement with said follower, a pair of racks respectively secured tosaid collar and the actuator and a gear journaled on the receiver forengagement therewith to displace said follower and rotate said pistonfor alignment of said ducts and said grooves responsive to thereciprocation of said actuator.

References Cited by the Examner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,779,248 1/57Stevens 89-155 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,003,687 2/47 France.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Pr'ma-y Exam'ner. SAMUEL BOYD, ARTI-IUR M. HORTON,Examiners,

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PRESSURIZED SUPPLY OF LIQUID PROPELLANT, ANAUTOMATIC GUN INCLUDING A RECEIVER, A PAIR OF BARRELS, A DRUM ROTATABLYMOUNTED IN THE RECEIVER FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CONVEYING PROJECTILES TOFIRING STATIONS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BARRELS, AN ACTUATOR DISPOSED INSAID RECEIVER FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATION DURING CYCLIC OPERATION OFSAID GUN AND CAM MEANS FOR CONVERTING THE LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATION OFSAID ACTUATOR TO ROTATION OF THE DRUM, A FIRING DEVICE INCLUDING AHOUSING PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL PORTIONTERMINATED BY AN END PORTION, A PISTON SLIDINGLY MOUNTED IN SAIDCYLINDRICAL PORTION FOR RECIPROCATION BETWEEN A BATTERY AND A RECOILPOSITION, A SPRING FOR BIASING SAID PISTON TO THE BATTERY POSITION, ACOMBUSTION CHAMBER FORMED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION BETWEEN SAID ENDPORTION AND SAID PISTON FOR THE DISCHARGE OF A METERED QUANTITY OF SAIDLIQUID PROPELLANT THERE IN, SAID PISTON BEING DISPOSED FOR ACTUATION TOTHE RECOIL POSITION BY THE DISCHARGE, DUCT MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE GASESFROM THE DISCHARGE AGAINST THE PROJECTILES IN THE FIRING STATIONS FORTHE SIMULTANEOUS PROPULSION THEREOF THROUGH SAID BARRELS, A STEM PORTIONEXTENDING FORM SAID PISTON ALONG SAID APERTURE, A CYLINDRICAL SEATMOUNTED IN SAID APERTURE AND PROVIDED WITH AN AXIAL HOLE FOR SLIDINGLYRECEIVING SAID STEM PORTION, SAID SEAT BEING SPACED FROM SAID PISTONWHEN IN THE BATTERY POSITION TO FORM A RESERVOIR THERBETWEEN FORMETERING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF SAID PROPELLANT SUFFICIENT FOR THESIMULTANEOUS PROPULSION OF THE PROJECTILES THROUGH THE BARRELS, SAIDSEAT BEING ENGAGEABLE BY SAID PISTON WHEN IN THE RECOIL POSITION TOCOMPLETELY REDUCE SAID RESERVOIR, A CYLINDRICAL COMPARTMENT AXIALLYDISPOSED IN SAID STEM PORTION, MEANS FOR CONDUCTING PROPELLANT FROM THEPRESSURIZED SUPPLY TO SAID COMPARTMENT, DUCTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDSTEM PORTION FROM SAID COMPARTMENT, GROOVES, CHANNELS AND NOZZLESCORRESPONDING TO SAID DUCTS PROVIDED RESPECTIVELY IN SAID SLEEVE,HOUSING AND PISTON, A FOLLOWER MOUNTED TO SAID STEM PORTION FOR LIMITEDLONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO AND ROTATIONAL MOVEMENTTHEREWITH, CAM PORTIONS PROVIDED IN THE RECEIVER FOR ENGAGED COOPERATIONWITH SAID FOLLOWER FOR ROTATING SAID PISTON TO ALIGN SAID DUCTS WITHSAID GROOVES DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON TO THE BATTERY POSITION BYSAID SPRING FOR PASSAGE OF SAID PROPELLANT FROM SAID COMPARTMENT TO FILLSAID RESERVOIR AND TO ALIGN SAID NOZZLES WITH SAID CHANNELS WHEN SAIDPISTON IS IN THE BATTERY POSITION AND FOR PASSING THE METERED QUANTITYOF SAID PROPELLANT FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER DURINGMOVEMENT THEREOF TO THE RECOIL POSITION, AND MEANS FOR DISCHARGING THEPROPELLANT IN SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER.